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Reptiles - Listed by species.Reptile Species - we've put together a sort of reptilian encyclopedia with information on all your favorite reptiles.

Reptilian Species, broken down by Order

Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, cold-blooded (ectothermic) vertebrates which are covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods (have four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors). Modern reptiles inhabit every continent with the exception of Antarctica. Reptiles originated around 320-310 million years ago during the Carboniferous period, having evolved from advanced reptile-like amphibians that became increasingly adapted to life on dry land. There are four living Orders of reptiles that are typically recognized:

When naming reptiles (just like the birds) there is a fair bit of biology that goes into how a particular reptile gets classified. Reptiles get broken in one of the four main Orders, then into Sub-Orders, and then into Families. If you have any familiarity with Biology who will know a great many of our classification system for animals follow a similar (and even more elaborate) system.

Order Testudines – Turtles

Suborder Cryptodira

Family Chelydridae – Common Snapping Turtles and Alligator Snapping Turtle

Family Emydidae – Pond Turtles and Box Turtles

Family Testudinidae – Tortoises

Family Geoemydidae – Asian River Turtles and Allies

Family Carettochelyidae – Pignose Turtles

Family Trionychidae – Softshell Turtles

Family Dermatemydidae – River Turtles

Family Kinosternidae – Mud Turtles

Family Cheloniidae – Sea Turtles

Family Dermochelyidae – Leatherback Turtles

Suborder Pleurodira

Family Chelidae – Austro-American Sideneck Turtles

Family Pelomedusidae – Afro-American Sideneck Turtles

Family Podocnemididae – Madagascan Big-headed Turtles and American Sideneck River Turtles